February is Black History Month!

This February, we hope you've taken time to learn about some of the extraordinary accomplishments of African Americans. There is much to celebrate.  There were the courageous efforts of people like Rosa Parks and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to end racial segregation and there are those who broke new ground like Carol Mosely Braun, who became the first black woman to be elected to the United States Senate, and Oprah Winfrey, who became the first black woman television host in 1986.  Many of these outstanding individuals worked to overcome enormous obstacles and made lasting contributions to our society.

Black History Month provides us an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and to learn from the tragedies of our past. Diversity and intolerance continue to be a source of conflict and violence among our youth at school and in the community. During Black History month, parents, teachers and youth service providers can inspire our youth to overcome racial conflict, teach tolerance and inspire future leaders to break down barriers.

Visit the links below to learn about the struggles, achievements, leaders, and lessons that, together, form a rich history of African Americans.

• Info Please provides histories and timelines, games and puzzles, contemporary issues and a variety of other links to information to enrich your celebration of Black History Month.
• Family Education Network celebrates black history with quizzes and other fun ways to learn about the contributions and achievements of African Americans.
• "African American History Month" by the National Park Service National Registry of Historical Places
• NEA's Read Across America - African American Booklist
• PBS Presents Your Guide To African American History and Culture
• The African-American Mosaic: A Library Of Congress Resource Guide For The Study of Black History & Culture
• Yahooligans Presents the Big Picture, “Black History Month”
• The History Channel Celebrates Black History Month
• The Civil Rights Memorial by the Southern Poverty Law Center
• Education First: Black History Activities

Read about how some schools around the country celebrate Black History Month:

• High school focuses on black history (The Oregonian, February 24, 2005)
• Black History month noted by fort students (The Leavenworth Times, February 27, 2005)
• Shedding Light on History (South Bend Tribune, February 27, 2005)
• Black History Month Esseays Celebrate Past and Future (The Port Huron Times Herald, February 27, 2005)

Page Updated: March 17, 2005